University of Minnesota Laryngology Research Program

Voice Upper Airway & Swallowing

Vocalization and Brain Activity

Area of Focus

The Laryngology Research Program at the University of Minnesota studies disorders involving the larynx, such as hoarseness, chronic cough, swallowing and breathing difficulty. Our goal is to develop treatments that improve the lives of patients with these disorders. Our program focuses particularly on the relationships between psychological factors and voice disorders, measurements of upper airway pressures during voice production using high-resolution manometry, and laryngeal stimulation to improve chronic cough and describing patient perspectives on airway stenosis. 

Active Grants/Projects

Quantification of Adductor Laryngeal Dystonia with High-Resolution Manometry: Development of Tools for Objective Diagnosis and Treatment Response Monitoring

  • UM1TR004405-01A1, University of Minnesota CTSI (Blazar, PI), K12TR004373, University of Minnesota CTSI (Ingbar, PI), NIH/NCATS, K12 Scholars Career Development Award (Hoffmeister, PI), 09/01/2024 - 08/31/2027

Myofunctional Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in U.S. Service Members With and Without Traumatic Brain Injury

  • DoD CDMRP USUHS MDO: VP-24-002, University of Minnesota (Multi-PI: Jesse Hoffmeister), Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences (Multi-PI: Nancy Solomon), 10/1/2024 - 9/30/2027

Development of Physiologically-Based Measures of Disease Severity in Adductor Laryngeal Dystonia

  • Catalyst Grant (Hoffmeister, PI), Dr. Ralph and Marian Falk Medical Research Trust, 11/1/2024 - 11/1/2026

Vibrotactile Stimulation of The Larynx for Refractory Chronic Cough

  • R34HL174877 (Misono, PI), 8/15/2024 - 7/31/2027

 

Completed Grants/Projects

Direct Quantification of Adductor Spasmodic Dysphonia with High-Resolution Manometry

  • Career Development Award (Hoffmeister, PI), Dystonia Coalition/NIH Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network, NS065701, TR001456, NS116025 , NIH/NCATS/NINDS, 08/01/2022 - 07/31/2023, 08/01/2023 - 07/31/2024 NCE

Psychological Factors Influencing Voice Outcomes: Technology-Based Asssessment and Intervention 

  • K23 DC016335 (Misono, PI), NIH/NIDCD, 7/01/2017 - 6/30/2023

Psychological Factors Influencing Voice Outcomes: Impacts in Gender Minority Patients 

  • 3K23DC016335-04 (Misono, PI), NIH/NIDCD, 06/01/2021 - 06/30/2023

Psychological Factors Influencing Voice 

  • Clinical Scientist Development Award (Misono, PI), Triological Society/American College of Surgeons, 10/01/2019 - 06/30/2023

Multidisciplanry Approach for Providing Personalized Patient Care for Airway Stenosis

  • University of Minnesota New Opportunities to Improve Outcomes (NOTIO) program (Gray, PI), 2022 - 2023
Publications

VTS Imaging

Characterization of UES Pressure Relative to Vocal Acoustics

VTS is Feasible and Acceptable

Stress Effects on UES Pressure

Endoscopic Treatment of Subglottic Stenosis With Flexible Bronchoscopy via Laryngeal Mask Airway

Web-Based Perceived Present Control Intervention for Voice Disorders: A Pilot Study

Patient Satisfaction with In-Person Versus Virtual Voice Therapy

Risk of Post-Intubation Laryngotracheal Stenosis

More Publications: 

Collaborations

We enjoy research collaborations with a variety of colleagues across the university and at other institutions, from fields including speech pathology, kinesiology, psychology, engineering, neuroscience, gastroenterology, pulmonology, health services and outcomes, sexuality and gender health, biostatistics, and radiology. 

Laryngology Program Photo

Meet the Team